Harris, John
Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca - Harris, John - 1764. [1279622]London: Publ. for T. Osborne et al., 1764. Third edition. Hardcover. An important collection of voyages, the third edition greatly enhanced by important maps by Emanuel Bowen, especially by the first English map of the Australian continent and the first map of the colony of Georgia. Harris' first edition of 1705 includes descriptions of America, the South Seas, the West Indies, the North Pole, Russia, China, Africa and India. "A great collection" (Cox 1I, 0). Much anthropological information is included in the voyages to the Americas, East Indies, Far East & it includes Dampier's famous observations on the Australian aborigines. Also present here, and absent in the first edition, are the narrations of Christopher Middleton to Hudson Bay, 1741-1742, Bering to the Northeast, 1725-1736, Woodes Rogers' circumnavigation, 1708-1711, Clipperton and Shevlocke's circumnavigation, 1719-1722, and Anson's voyages, 1740-1744. The most important maps are of Australia and Georgia. "A Complete Map of the Southern Continent surveyed by Capt., Abel Tasman", is based on the Thevenot map of 1663. The first map in English dedicated to the continent of Australia, the text is wildly optimistic speculation, including the presence of gold and other riches, encouraging further exploration. [Ref: Perry, Discovery of Australia, p. 60 & pl. 29; Tooley Mapping of Australia p. 35 & pl. 12; Schilder, Australia Unveiled map 87.] Of prime importance to America is the inclusion "A New Map of Georgia with Part of Carolina, Florida and Louisiana..." This is the first map of Georgia, mapping from Charleston ("Charles Town") to Northern Florida ("C. Canaveval") stretching to Louisiana, west of the Mississippi River. The names of the Native American tribes are prominent and emphasized in this map, marking both friendly and hostile tribes and known trails. As this was the official account of the colony, Bowen had access to the maps made by the colonists themselves. Cumming: 267, color plate 18. 14 1/2 by 19".Both of these maps were first appear in the 1748 second edition of John Harris' 'Navigantium' - they are identical to those in the third edition. Ref: Cox 1, p. 10; Sabin 30483; National Maritime Museum 34 (listing 3rd edition); Hill 775 (second edition); Hill p. 138 (listing 1st only); Goldsmiths 8040. 2 volumes, folio. [Vol 1] title & 4 pp preface, 4 pp dedication, xvi introduction, 4 pp contents, 984 pp [&] [Vol 2] frontispiece, title [1] verso blank, preface [2], contents [6], 1056 pp text, index [21], a list of charts, etc.[1]. All edges marbled. In total 34 portraits, 45 views, 15 natural history plts, 3 plans, 23 maps & charts of which 16 are folding, on 61 plts. Tall folio, handsomely rebound in dark brown 1/4 calf, marbled boards, title piece & date on spine. The text is especially crisp.
[Bookseller: Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints]